What regular house cleaning usually covers
Kitchen: benches and surfaces wiped, the sink and taps cleaned, the stovetop and the fronts of appliances done. Bathrooms and toilets: the basin, shower, bath, toilet and mirror, every visit.
Bedrooms and living areas: dusting of surfaces within reach, then vacuuming and mopping right through. Bins: emptied, with fresh liners if you leave them out.
That's the core. You and the cleaning business agree the exact list, how often they come and the day, and it's worth writing it down so nobody is guessing by the third visit.
Weekly or fortnightly house cleaning?
It comes down to how hard the house is lived in. Young kids, pets that shed, several flatmates or a home that runs damp all push towards weekly. A couple out at work most days may find fortnightly is enough.
If the place has slipped, a regular clean struggles to catch up. People often book a one-off deep clean first, then keep it there with regular visits.
House cleaning extras, and what sits outside the visit
Four extras sit outside the core list: the oven, inside windows, carpet steam cleaning and wall marks. Tick them in the form when you want them, or ask for them every few visits instead of every time.
Gardens, lawns, rubbish runs and repairs aren't part of a cleaning job here. Changing beds, folding washing or tidying the kids' rooms vary from one business to the next, so raise them on the first call.
House cleaning in a damp home needs a little more
When a home runs damp in winter, it shows up as condensation on windows and black spots on sills and bathroom ceilings. Health New Zealand suggests using the extractor fans in the bathroom and kitchen, and Tenancy Services says to remove mould as soon as it appears.
A regular clean is a good way to stay ahead of small spots. White vinegar does the job on small spots, according to Tenancy Services. For a large patch, or mould after a flood, Health New Zealand says to get advice from a mould removal specialist.
What to ask house cleaners before the first visit
- Which rooms and tasks are in every visit, and which only now and then?
- Will the same person come each time, or whoever is available that week?
- Do you bring your own products and vacuum, or use ours?
- How do you get in when we're out, and where is the key kept?
- What happens if you can't make a visit, or we need to skip one?
- Is this a quote or an estimate, and is it in writing?
- What's your NZBN, and can I see your public liability certificate?
Your part, and the house cleaner's
Worth doing yourself
- A quick pick-up of clothes, toys and dishes before they arrive, so they can reach the surfaces.
- A squeegee or wipe on the shower glass after each shower.
- Opening windows on dry days and running the fans when you cook or shower.
- Telling them about anything fragile or anything they shouldn't touch.
Where a cleaning business earns its keep
- Bathrooms and toilets scrubbed properly, not just wiped.
- Floors vacuumed and mopped in every room, under the edges as well as the middle.
- Kitchen grease on the stovetop and splashback before it builds up.
- The routine itself, so the house doesn't drift between your busy weeks.
Warning signs when hiring a house cleaner
- Weeks of visits wanted in advance before anyone has seen the house.
- No business name or NZBN, only a first name and a mobile.
- A list that changes every visit with nothing in writing.
- Pressure to sign up for months at a time before you've had one clean.
Our advice before booking a regular house cleaner
If the house hasn't had a proper clean for a while, book a deep clean first so the regular visits start from a clean slate rather than chasing old grime. Then write the regular list down room by room, agree how often, and check it against the house after a month.